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4 Red Sox on the Chopping Block After Craig Breslow Hiring

It's time to trim the dead weight if the Red Sox are to become World Series contenders soon.

By Devon Platana

Now that Craig Breslow is in charge in Boston, these four Red Sox must be put on the chopping block.
Now that Craig Breslow is in charge in Boston, these four Red Sox must be put on the chopping block. / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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2. Joely Rodriguez

Kluber's team option isn't the only one the Red Sox must decide on this offseason. There's also relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez, who split the 2023 campaign between the majors and minors.

More often than not, Rodriguez showed promise in the minors. He went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA across 12 relief appearances in Double-A and Triple-A, but couldn't bring that same level of play to Boston. He allowed 10.6 hits and 4.9 walks per nine innings while pitching to a 6.55 ERA in 11 games with the Red Sox before an oblique strain ended his season in August.

Rodriguez has now allowed at least 10.3 hits and 3.5 walks per nine innings in two of the last three seasons, further proving that he isn't a reliable reliever or worth the $4.25 million team option. If he can't keep the opposition off-base, why should he be kept on the roster?

With his being 32 once the 2024 MLB season begins, it's going to be harder for Rodriguez to rebound from his oblique injury. It's even harder to have faith in his health when this was his second time in four seasons playing 12 or fewer games.

If Breslow wants to start building a contender, he needs a reliable bullpen. Moving on from Rodriguez would help in the sense of being addition by subtraction.

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